Always be careful when you are using the internet. It can help you to keep in touch with your friends and help your education – but it can also cause harm – to you and to others.
Remember help is always available at school if you are having any problems online.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your teacher or another adult at school.
Potential online risks can include:
- Access and exposure to inappropriate /disturbing images and content
- Access and exposure to racist or hate material
- Sexual grooming, luring, abuse and exploitation by/with strangers
- Sharing personal information with strangers that could identify and locate a child offline
- Online bullying (cyber bullying) by peer and people they consider their ‘friends’
- Being encouraged take part in violent behaviour such as ‘happy slapping’
- Sending or receiving sexually explicit films, images or messages of themselves or others (this is known as sexting when sent by mobile phone)
- Glorifying activities such as drug taking or excessive drinking
- Physical harm to young people in making video content, such as enacting and imitating stunts and risk taking activities
- Leaving and running away from home as a result of contacts made online.